New Skoda Superb Scout Joins Facelifted Line-up

Skoda has revealed off-road-inspired Superb Scout. This is the first time Skoda has offered its flagship model in rugged Scout trim. Like the old Octavia Scout, features include a suite of hard-wearing exterior body mouldings, a lifted suspension set-up, 18-inch alloy wheels, underbody protection and a revised interior. Buyers also have the option to spec an exclusive Metallic Tangerine Orange paint finish. Only two engines are available, with the choice of Skoda鈥檚 most powerful petrol or diesel engine. Buyers can choose from either a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel unit with 188bhp and 400Nm of torque, or a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 268bhp and 350Nm of torque. The Superb Scout鈥檚 Drive Mode Select system also gets a rethink over the standard car鈥檚 with a new Off-Road driving mode, which optimises the four-wheel-drive system for use on loose terrain. The Volkswagen Group鈥檚 Dynamic Chassis Control system is also available as an optional extra, adding adaptive dampers. Interior revisions over the standard Superb include standard-fitment heated front seats, a wood-effect dashboard trim, and unique upholstery. Optional extras include Alcantara and leather trimmed seats, an automatic electrically-opening tailgate, a retractable tow-bar and Skoda鈥檚 Sleep Package, which provides a set of larger headrests and a blanket.

Jaguar Land Rover is recalling 54,350 vehicles as part of the expanded Takata passenger-side airbag recalls. This recall affects the 2007-2011 Land Rover Range Rover and the 2009-2011 Jaguar XF. None of these vehicles had previously been included in these recalls. Mercedes-Benz is recalling 199,705 cars as part of the expanded Takata passenger-side airbag recalls. This recall affects the 2008-2011 C300 sedan, C350 sedan, and C63 AMG sedan; 2010-2011 GLK350 and E350 coupe; 2011 E350 convertible, E550 coupe and convertible, and the SLS AMG. Also, the brand鈥檚 parent company, Daimler, is recalling 5100 vans for the same issue: 2010-2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, 2009-2011 Freightliner Sprinter, and 2009 Dodge Sprinter. UPDATE 6/7/2016, 10:30 a.m.: The owner of a 2006 Nissan X-Trail SUV has filed a suit against Takata and Nissan for wrist and head injuries she sustained in an October 2015 crash in Japan. The vehicle had been recalled for defective airbag inflators, but parts weren鈥檛 available at the time the woman鈥檚 husband took the SUV to a dealership to get it fixed. According to Automotive News, this is the first suit in Japan against Takata and an automaker for these airbags.

UPDATE 6/10/2016, 5:30 p.m.:Toyota has identified the new cars that still use non-desiccated Takata inflators. About 175,000 vehicles are affected in the U.S. UPDATE 6/17/2016, 10:00 a.m.: Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Honda鈥檚 joint venture in China, is recalling 1 million vehicles for their Takata airbags, the Detroit News reports. UPDATE 6/21/2016, 2:00 p.m.: Fiat Chrysler said it would stop using non-desiccated Takata airbag inflators with ammonium nitrate by next week. This applies to all of its cars built for the North American market. FCA will end production globally by mid-September. As of now, FCA said that only the 2016 Jeep Wrangler鈥檚 passenger-side front airbag used such an inflator and that it would notify potential buyers of any of these unsold vehicles. Without describing its methods, FCA also said it tested 鈥渘early 6300 older versions鈥?of this inflator and found no problems. The non-desiccated inflators are considered dangerous since they do not have a chemical to absorb moisture.

UPDATE 6/27/2016, 10:30 a.m.: Automotive News reports that a ruptured airbag appears to have caused a woman鈥檚 death in an accident in Malaysia. The driver of a 2005 Honda City was killed on Saturday, and the driver鈥檚-side airbag was found to be ruptured. The official cause of death has yet to be declared as of this writing. The car involved in the accident had been recalled in May 2015, but it hadn鈥檛 been repaired. If verified, this would be the third death related to defective Takata airbags in Malaysia this year. UPDATE 6/28/2016, 5:00 p.m.: Shigehisa Takada, the chief executive of automotive supplier Takata, announced in a shareholder meeting that he will resign once a 鈥渘ew management regime鈥?has been selected. UPDATE 6/30/2016, 2:30 p.m.: Seven Honda and Acura models from 2001-2003 pose the highest failure rate among all recalled vehicles, with as much as a 50 percent chance their airbag inflators will rupture, according to NHTSA. The agency identified the 2001-2002 Honda Civic and Accord, 2002 CR-V and Odyssey, 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL, and 2003 Honda Pilot and Acura 3.2CL as the most dangerous.